“He was just a bull in a China shop,” that’s how Trey Hendrickson’s college coach Charlie Patridge once described him. Years later, things haven’t changed. His focus remains intense. Before every match, the defensive end goes in isolation and completely shuts off everyone.

His parents, Collie and Louise Hendrickson have seen his hunger to win this from a young age. Playing in the NFL was their son’s only dream.

Who are Collie and Louise Hendrickson?

When he was only 4-5 years old, Trey started playing with smaller helmets at his home. He often told his parents that he would play professional football. His father, Collie, still remembers an incident. The DE, then only 6 years of age, was playing a 1-on-1 basketball game with his father. When he lost, his rage was unexpected. This was the first glimpse that he always liked playing hard.

Collie often told Trey stories from his football days at Missouri Southern State University. This inspired the young boy to become a footballer. Soon, other sports were left far behind. While the father prepared him for the battle on the gridiron, his homemaker mother, Louise, was only focused on her son not getting any scary injury and having a proper diet. She had an important yet unnoticed role in his football journey.

Though his friends and teammates weren’t surprised when the Saints drafted him in the third round (103rd third overall) in the 2017 Draft, his father was surprised. Collie knew his son was competitive, but had never anticipated this. After all, Trey Hendrickson is the first member of the family to play in the NFL.

His journey has been full of ups and downs, but giving up was never an option. It was always an all-in battle.

How has Trey Hendrickson fulfilled his parents’ dream?

When the DE studied at the Apopka High School in Florida, he showed talent. But regular displays of immaturity were also there. Subsequently, the team kicked him off. Even as a young child, he had a passion for football. And he came back in a different role, as a tight end.

Trey Hendrickson later chose Florida Atlantic for college, where he had a good show as a defensive stalwart. He recorded 27 sacks in 3 seasons, but there was this aura of invincibility around him. The 6’4″, 265-pound athlete was a beast, and he never feared anyone.

The Saints locker room saw his toughness firsthand when he played the entire 2019 season with a broken spinal specula injury which he suffered in the off-season. In the 2021 offseason, the Cincinnati Bengals came running. He signed a 4-year, $60 million contract with them. This was his first step to glory. In 2023, he had his best season with 43 tackles (28 solo) and 17.5 sacks in 17 games.

The DE is showing no signs of slowing down. He has already completed his parents’ dream of playing in the NFL. The only thing remaining in his career is a Super Bowl. Can he do it this year? We’ll find out soon.

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